Le Massif de Charlevoix
| Le Massif de Charlevoix | |
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Slopes overlooking the St. Lawrence River
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 Le Massif de Charlevoix
Location in Canada
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| Location | Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Quebec, Canada |
| Nearest city | Quebec City: 70 km (43 mi) |
| Coordinates | 47°17′N 70°37′W / 47.28°N 70.61°WCoordinates: 47°17′N 70°37′W / 47.28°N 70.61°W |
| Vertical | 770 m (2,526 ft) |
| Top elevation | 806 m (2,644 ft) |
| Base elevation | 36 m (118 ft) |
| Skiable area | 406.3 acres (164.4 ha) |
| Runs | 52 total - 15% Easy - 30% Intermediate - 20% Difficult - 35% Expert |
| Longest run | 5.1 km (3.2 mi) |
| Lift system | 6 total 1 high-speed gondola 3 detachable quads 1 platter-type 1 novice conveyor |
| Lift capacity | 11,200 skiers/hr |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 645 cm (250 in) |
| Snowmaking | 70% - 174.6 acres (70 ha) |
| Night skiing | No |
| Website | lemassif.com |
Le Massif de Charlevoix (French /lə.ma.sɪf.də.ʃaʁ.lə.vwɑ/) is a ski area in Québec, Canada, northeast of Quebec City and directly overlooking the St. Lawrence River.
Le Massif de Charlevoix ski area is located in Petite-Rivière-Saint François, Charlevoix, Québec, a 50-minute drive from Quebec City. Its vertical drop is 770 m (2,526 ft), the highest in Eastern Canada and east of the Rockies. It is one of the few ski areas that is accessible from both the base and summit.
Skiing season usually lasts from early December to late April. Le Massif de Charlevoix's has an above average annual snowfall compared to other ski areas in Eastern Canada with a five-year average of 645 cm (250 in). While the snow pack at the summit can exceed 240 cm (90 in) in a typical winter, the base is near sea level and can quickly begin to melt by April.
La Charlevoix, the steepest trail with a pitch of 64%, is home to the only alpine training center east of the Rockies for Canada's athletes.
The resort stretches from the top of the escarpment (actually a half-graben) to the bottom where the Saint Lawrence River flows past.
Skiing at Le Massif de Charlevoix started at the end of the 1970s, with snowmobiles towing groups of skiers from the main road at the top and a van serving as the lift. In the early 1980s, commercial operations started with la Société de développement du Massif. Starting in 1983–1984, school buses were used to drive skiers from the base to the top after each run. In the summer of 1992, two chairlifts were installed: a high-speed quad and a fixed-grip double.
The year of 2001 saw significant change for Le Massif de Charlevoix. A new road was built from Route 138 to the top of the mountain. The distance between Quebec City and Le Massif de Charlevoix summit was then reduced to 70 km (43 mi) instead of the 95 km (60 mi) previously needed to reach the base via the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François. At the same time, The Cap Maillard was raised by 35 m (115 ft) to create La Charlevoix, an FIS standard downhill trail mapped by alpine course designer (and champion) Bernhard Russi. It hosted the speed events of the 2006 Junior World Championships, with technical events at Mont-Sainte-Anne. However, La Charlevoix was deemed unsuitable for hosting an Olympic downhill men’s event hurting Quebec City's chances at hosting a Winter Olympics. The Junior Worlds returned in 2013.
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